Tag: NHS Charities Together

VR technology and educational escape rooms used to train over 600 school children in vital lifesaving skills

Over 600 high school students have so far been trained in vital lifesaving skills as part of a groundbreaking pilot training programme using innovative technologies such as virtual reality (VR) and educational escape rooms.

The Young Minds Save Lives pilot programme, which is run by the Scottish Ambulance Service and is currently funded by NHS Charities Together, provides young people with critical knowledge and skills on how to respond in a medical emergency and preventative healthcare. The programme also aims to raise awareness about future careers in healthcare and opportunities for volunteering.

Working with staff at Shawlands Academy and Holyrood Secondary School, the pilot training programme has been designed with S3 students to meet the specific needs of the local community whilst providing interest to the young people by using innovative educational tools which are not typically used in a school setting.

The programme, which is delivered to pupils by two local frontline paramedics, covers topics such as CPR where dummies and VR headsets are used, recognising strokes, chest pain and heart attacks, drug and alcohol harm, and excessive bleeding from penetrating wounds such as knives.

The young people took part in educational escape room challenges which tested their knowledge on the topics they had been taught in order to finish the programme.

Reflecting on her experience, Mia Tait, S3 student at Shawlands Academy said: “I’ve really enjoyed taking part in the Young Minds Save Lives pilot programme and have learned loads of new skills.

“It’s also really increased my confidence, so if I ever came across or was involved in a medical emergency, I’d feel like I’d know what to do now.

“Using a VR headset for our CPR lesson was great fun and when I took it home to show my family, they were keen to have a go too!

“The programme has also given me more of an insight into the work of paramedics and the potential career and volunteering options that are available at the Scottish Ambulance Service when I’m a bit older. I’d never really thought about it before.”

Michael Dickson, Scottish Ambulance Service Chief Executive said: “The Young Minds Saves Lives pilot programme is unique.

“It’s a co-designed project working with the young people using innovative technology and creative learning methods to educate them on vital skills, and it also focuses on working with the local community to support their needs and issues with the outcome of improving population health, supporting healthcare careers of young people, and wider health and wellbeing.

“The feedback we have received from staff, pupils, parents and the community whilst we’ve been running this pilot project has been absolutely fantastic.

“The University of Glasgow have undertaken an evaluation of the programme and the next step, subject to securing further investment, is to roll the initiative out across the country in order to train more high school children in vital life-saving skills and preventative healthcare areas, which will benefit additional Scottish communities.”

The pilot programme is supported by Save a Life Scotland, Resus UK, the University of Glasgow, Developing the Young Workforce Glasgow, NHS Education for Scotland, Health Improvement Scotland and Eeek Escape Rooms.

For more information about how you can support the Young Minds Save Lives initiative, contact: sas.ymsl@nhs.scot.

Two years on: Covid’s legacy of kindness?

Inspired by Shakespeare’s “and so shines a good deed in a weary world”, an author has donated her time to produce a commemorative book in tribute to the hard work and kindness seen across the UK during the Covid pandemic.

Anna James spent more than 6 months interviewing key workers, everyday heroes and familiar faces as well as charities and organisations and collating the stories and photos of their ‘good deeds’. She has self-published the 350+ page coffee-table style book to celebrate their efforts and to raise money for the NHS and other good causes.

Amongst many others, the book includes contributions from NHS workers, dustbin men, cleaners and farmers; home-schooling families, isolating couples and Covid survivors; Her Majesty the Queen, Captain Tom, Ian Broudie, Banksy and Charlie Mackesy; Fareshare, Samaritans, NSPCC and Age UK; M&S, The Royal Mint, Chester Zoo and even a loo roll manufacturer.  

The book also features hundreds of photos of some of the things we all saw and experienced in the early months of the pandemic. 

Anna said: “2020 was an unprecedented year with monumental challenges and heart-breaking sadnesses but amongst that, there was also exceptional hard work, adaptability and kindness. Our humanity and community spirit shone in the darkness and I thought it was important to pay tribute to that, so we’ve got something to look back on and be proud of.

“I also thought it was important to record some of the things we were all seeing and experiencing – in years to come, when this is hopefully far behind us, will we remember the rainbows? That people joined forces in their thousands to make masks and scrubs for the NHS? Will we remember that we clapped outside, every Thursday night? That whole towns and cities were deserted and that shops ran out of toilet roll? I wanted to document some of that to help us remember; as a social history record for us to show our grandchildren, and for them to show theirs.

“I am humbled to have become the caretaker of this most amazing collection of stories from all these everyday heroes who share what they did to help the country and each other, which are heart-warming and heart-wrenching in equal measures.

“It’s probably the book none of us would ever have wanted but perhaps the one we all need, to remind ourselves what a kind and generous bunch we can be.”

As we approach two years since the UK went into its first lockdown, Covid Kindness: UK 2020 is available to order at https://www.amazon.co.uk/Covid-Kindness-UK…/dp/1527275825 to help you remember and reflect on the early days of the pandemic.

All profits go to NHS Charities Together and other good causes.

Generosity has increased since lockdown began, research reveals

I think we can all agree the last 12 months have been challenging in so many ways, for people and businesses alike. But one of the most heart-warming parts since the first lockdown was announced has been seeing how many people have pulled together to help those in need.

New research by thortful.com has shown that people are now looking to give back. thortful analysed Google Trends data since the start of the first lockdown and found that there has been a huge increase in terms like ‘care packages for friends’ and ‘care package ideas’ seeing a 3350% and 250% increase in the last 12 months.

Businesses are also looking to show their appreciation to loyal customers who have continued to support them during these uncertain times, with the search term ‘thank you business cards’ seeing a 400% increase in the last 12 months.

Interestingly, search terms like ‘thank you for your order cards’ and ‘thank you for your purchase cards’ are two breakout queries, indicating this is a growing trend and that businesses want to give back to their customer base.

People’s willingness to give back was also seen during the Mother’s Day period when people donated to thortful’s NHS Charities Together campaign, which raised £130,126.50 for NHS Charities. Thanks to their customers, they were able to smash their target of raising £110,000. .

thortful became the official card company sponsor of the NHS Charities Together during the Mother’s Day period (15th February – 14th March), and pledged £110,000 to NHS Charities Together.

During this period, 5p for every Mother’s Day card sold and £5 from every Rainbow bouquet bought was donated by thortful directly to NHSCT. thortful smashed their target on 15th March 2021 with the total figure now at £130,126.50.

Commenting on the initiative, a thortful spokesperson explained: “It’s great to see how generous and altruistic people have been during this time.

“We are so grateful to all our wonderful customers for helping us raise this huge amount of money. We wanted to show our support and gratitude for all of the NHS staff who have worked tirelessly during the pandemic.”

For the full thank you card range, go to: https://www.thortful.com/cards/thank-you

“And so shines a good deed in a weary world”

Author celebrates ‘Covid hard work and kindness’ in a commemorative charity book


Inspired by Shakespeare’s “and so shines a good deed in a weary world”, an author has donated her time to produce a commemorative book celebrating the hard work and kindness seen across the UK during the Covid pandemic.

Anna James spent more than 6 months interviewing key workers, everyday heroes and familiar faces as well as charities and organisations and collating the stories and photos of their ‘good deeds’.

She has self-published the 350+ page coffee-table style book to celebrate their efforts and to raise money for the NHS and other good causes.

Amongst many others, the book includes contributions from NHS workers, dustbin men, cleaners and farmers; home-schooling families, isolating couples and Covid survivors; Her Majesty the Queen, Captain Tom, Ian Broudie, Banksy and Charlie Mackesy; Fareshare, Samaritans, NSPCC and Age UK; M&S, The Royal Mint, Chester Zoo and even a loo roll manufacturer!

The book also features hundreds of photos of some of the things we’ve all been seeing and experiencing over the past 12 months.

Anna said: “I desperately wanted to do something to help but didn’t know how to be useful – I’m a bit squeamish with anything medical and always get lost, even with satnav, so I’d have been no good at volunteering to help people or deliver things.

“After a few sleepless nights, I decided to stick with what I’m good at and to create a special compilation of this most unusual moment in our history. I would make one of my commemorative books as my small gift to the national effort.

“2020 was an unprecedented year with monumental challenges and heart-breaking sadnesses but amongst that, there was also exceptional hard work, adaptability and kindness. Our humanity and community spirit shone in the darkness and I thought it was important to celebrate that, so we’ve got something to look back on and be proud of.

“I also thought it was important to record some of the things we were all seeing and experiencing – in years to come, when this is hopefully far behind us, will we remember the rainbows? That people joined forces in their thousands to make masks and scrubs for the NHS?

“Will we remember that we clapped outside, every Thursday night? That whole towns and cities were deserted and that shops ran out of toilet roll? I wanted to document some of that to help us remember; as a social history record for us to show our grandchildren, and for them to show theirs.

“I am humbled to have become the caretaker of this most amazing collection of stories from all these everyday heroes who share what they did to help the country and each other, which are heart-warming and heart-wrenching in equal measures.

“It’s probably the book none of us would ever have wanted but perhaps the one we all need, to remind ourselves what a kind and generous bunch we can be.”

As we approach a year since the UK went into its first lockdown, Covid Kindness: UK 2020 is available to order at https://www.amazon.co.uk/Covid-Kindness-UK…/dp/1527275825 to help you remember and reflect on the past 12 months.

All profits go to NHS Charities Together and other good causes.

All In This Together

ALL IN THIS TOGETHER: THANK YOU TO GENEROUS CUSTOMERS & COLLEAGUES AT M&S STORES IN EDINBURGH FOR SUPPORTING NHS CHARITIES TOGETHER

  • M&S stores in Edinburgh will be taking part in the one-off Clap for Carers this Sunday to celebrate the 72nd birthday of the NHS*
  • Generous customers at the stores in Edinburgh have already raised over £42,000** for NHS Charities Together during this unprecedented time through a range of fundraising activity
  • A new in-store rainbow display will update customers on their fundraising total each week throughout the summer

This weekend, colleagues and customers at M&S stores in Edinburgh will be taking part in the one-off Clap for Carers to mark the 72nd birthday of the NHS, supported by the founder of the initiative and NHS England boss Sir Simon Stevens.

Ahead of the weekend, teams at stores in Edinburgh have installed a new display to share with customers just how generous the local community has been during this unprecedented time.

The in-store display (above) shows how much M&S customers at stores in Edinburgh have donated through a range of activity including shopping M&S’s Rainbow sale (where 10% of each purchase is donated to NHS Charities Together), buying the limited edition NHS Charities Together Bag for Life in the Edinburgh Foodhalls, purchasing M&S’s All in This Together T-shirts (pictured on Holly Willoughby and son below) and making one-off donations at the till points.

This fundraising total is already over £42,000. 

Customers can continue to get involved in lots of ways including selecting NHS Charities Together as their Sparks charity (M&S’s loyalty scheme) meaning M&S donates on their behalf every time they shop in any store or online.

M&S Edinburgh Princes Street Store Manager, Jenny Mcpartlin and her team will be updating the accumulator each Monday.

Jenny said: “The past few months have been challenging for all of us, but one thing that’s been amazing is seeing people rally together. We’re very proud that our community has already helped raise over £42,000 for a really important cause that will provide vital support to NHS staff, volunteers, and patients.

“Clothes shopping is different now and as customers are coming back and starting to shop with confidence it’s really lovely that the first thing they’ll see when they enter our stop is a display that shows the generosity and kindness of the local community.”

Ellie Orton, CEO, NHS Charities Together said, ““I can’t thank M&S customers enough, the money you have raised is making a huge difference for the NHS staff and volunteers who have been there for all of us during the Covid crisis.

“I’d urge all of you to come together with friends, family and neighbours for a moment of thanks on 5 July, so we can show appreciation for everyone who has been there for others over the last few challenging months.”